Ex-boyfriend of missing Orlando woman arrested in Keys

The ex-boyfriend of a missing Orlando woman has been arrested in the Florida Keys after fleeing police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.

Steven Louis, 28, of Kissimmee, was heading south on U.S. 1 on Thursday when a deputy saw him driving 72 mph in a 55 mph zone, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin.

The deputy, John McGee, tried to stop Louis, but he kept driving. Louis then made a U-turn and almost hit another car, Herrin said. McGee saw Louis eating and talking on a cellphone while driving.

At speeds of up to 100 mph, Louis fled north. When he reached Big Coppitt Key, at mile marker 6, Louis drove to the end of a road, drove down a private boat ramp and headed into the water.

McGee watched as Louis climbed onto the roof of the car, where he "began throwing up a large amount of white pasty substance," the Sheriff's Office said.

When other officers arrived, they tossed a rescue disc toward Louis, who had a "difficult time" grabbing onto the disc and "appeared to be impaired by some unknown substance," Herrin said.

An officer on scene had a personal boat nearby, which was used to rescue Louis from the water. He was transported to Lower Keys Hospital.

Louis was charged with fleeing and eluding police, criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license, Herrin said.

The car belonged to Nicole Fields, Louis' ex-girlfriend, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel. Osceola County Sheriff's Office investigators want to interview Louis about Fields' disappearance.

Fields disappeared Thursday after a 9 a.m. court hearing regarding Louis paying back child support. Louis is the father of one of her two children.

Fields' mother, Sherri, told the Orlando Sentinel that Fields usually calls her four or five times a day. But since the court hearing, Fields has not called.

Fields sought orders of protection from domestic violence against Louis two times in 2009, but the orders were dismissed last month.